Former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed surprise at the exclusion of the legendary fast bowler James Anderson from the first Test against India in Hyderabad, suggesting that the tourists should've opted for a more well-rounded bowling strategy in the first Test against India.
England is currently taking on Team India in the five-match Test series opener at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. However, the England cricket team announced it’s playing XI for the first Test a day before the game on Wednesday, January 24.
Anderson is England's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 690 wickets in 183 matches and has immense experience of the Indian conditions. Despite that, the skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum went with the young pacer Tom Hartley for the Hyderabad Test.
Nasser Hussain said: “Do you think that inexperience maybe as well has led to the four-spinner option? You've obviously got Leach. Like you said, haven't bowled since June. July. You've got the two inexperienced lads in Hartley and Rehan Ahmed.”
The commentator continued, “You could have gone with more balance on the side. You're leaving out one of our greatest ever cricketers Jimmy Anderson. Our greatest ever bowler has a good record in the subcontinent. I would like a more balanced bowling attack.”
Hussain signed off by saying, “But I guess with Rehan Ahmed's second test match, partly debut, Leach not bowling for a long time. They just feel they need three because obviously looking at that surface, it's going to turn.”
(With India Today Inputs)
